When most people think about creating an estate plan, they usually focus on what will happen when they die. They typically do not consider what their wishes would be if they were alive but unable to manage their own affairs (in other words, if they are alive but incapacitated). In many cases, failing to plan […]
Probate
Are Pensions Treated the Same in Your Estate Plan as Other Retirement Accounts? from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
The first private pension plan in the United States was established in the late 1800s. Through 1980, nearly 40 percent of Americans were covered by a traditional employer-funded pension. But employer-provided retirement plans have now largely shifted away from pensions to retirement savings vehicles like 401(k) plans and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) that place most […]
If My Will Is Filed with the Court, Will It Go through Probate? from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
Death is a personal and private affair that affects the deceased’s close family and friends. However, there is at least one aspect of death that may require state oversight: probate. But what does it mean to probate an estate and how does that different from when a the court requires a trusted helper to file […]
Demystifying Probate and the Executor’s Role from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
When creating a last will and testament (commonly known as a will), one of your most important considerations is who to choose to serve as the executor (sometimes called a personal representative) of your estate. As the name implies, the role of the executor is to execute the instructions that you provide in your will. […]